The Organisation

Project Art Works explores and promotes new practical and philosophical approaches to the meaningful involvement of people who have complex impairments in visual art activity that finds its way into mainstream programming and is of exceptional quality in its concept, aesthetic and production.

Based in Hastings, UK we collaborate on a wide range of regional and national projects. Our work aspires to excellence in contemporary visual art and is uniquely positioned to bridge the social care and cultural sectors in ways that promote sustainable relationships and bring people with complex needs into the heart of social and cultural life.

How we work

Through a personalised and holistic approach, our studio programmes and outreach projects provide freedom and purpose through art. The studio environment is recreated wherever a project takes place. The studio is a place where events and happenings unfold revealing the essential abilities and nature of all those involved.

Artists and makers work together, collaborate and where possible, talk about the studio and what takes place there. If someone does not use language to communicate, interaction is expansive rather than reductive utilising gesture, sound, signing and empathy.

Interviewer: What sort of things can you draw without seeing them?
Neville: I think snakes. Yeah. Tony, I drew a picture of a snake once didn’t I?
Tony: You did.
Neville: Yeah. It was a grass snake, wasn’t it?
Tony: That’s right.
Neville: A grass snake.
Tony: And if I remember rightly that was a dream – that was a drawing about a dream you had.
Neville: That’s right. Yeah.
Interviewer: Do you sometimes draw your dreams or was that just once?
Neville: No. That was just once. Yeah. Just once.